Today’s family photo shows a terrified husband and wife, who were killed in horror house fire along with their two children.
Family members have given their name to the Sri Lankan mother as Niruba. She was also killed with her four-year old son Thabish, her daughter Shasna and her mother last night in a fire at her Bexleyheath home.
The flames were extinguished by a brother-in-law who jumped from the highest floor to escape and broke his legs.
A touching family photo released this afternoon features Niruba, her mother, and their two children attending a family event.
Yogan Thangavadivel (the father of the children), was so upset last night that he refused to discuss the tragic incident. Two miles from the tragic scene in Bexleyheath south east London, he was comforted at home by several relatives.
Yogan, who has an off license, was notified by his wife that the fire had set their home on fire. However, the phone went dead. Yogan returned to the house to discover that his entire family was gone.
Later, he was seen screaming and crying and then collapsing outside of the house while firemen worked to rescue his bodies.
After starting downstairs, neighbors said that the fire ripped through their semi-detached homes.
According to police, the fire investigators and firefighters are investigating the cause of the fire, which was possibly caused by a defective fire alarm.
It is believed that the children were killed in bed while their mother was taken out from an upstairs window.
The victims are believed to have moved to the area three or four months ago, after the £425,000 properly was taken off the market.
Three women and two men from their family broke down on the street this morning. They were consoled by the police at the 1930s-era three-bed.
A number of well-wishers, as well as neighbors, were present at the scene and laid flowers. One said: “My heart breaks for your loss of precious lives.”
In a photo taken today, a scared wife was killed by a house fire along with her two small children and her mother. She had called her husband to tell him to shout “fire, fire” at work. A Sri Lankan mother, Niruba was named by her family as Niruba. She died along with her four-year old son Thabish, her daughter Shasna and her mother last night in the flames at her Bexleyheath home.
A small group of family members broke down this morning on the roads and were consoled by officers in front of the 1930s-era three-bed.
Two women and two children have died in a horror house fire in London while a man who escaped the flames was rushed to hospital
Neighbours said they heard terrified children – thought to be a toddler and a boy of five or six – screaming and saw a ‘distraught’ man outside the home in Bexleyheath as it was ‘engulfed in flames’ last night
The blaze ripped through their semi-detached home after they allegedly started on the downstairs, as they watched helplessly.
Scott James the Builder said that today’s fire destroyed the house quickly. Smoke blew into the streets at around 8.30pm.
The one with blackened glass has been replaced by the original.
Following a fire in Hamilton Road in Bexleyheath (south-east London), a forensic investigator enters the house through a glass.
Before entering the home with his camera, helmet, and mask, the officer carefully opens the windows.
An assortment of men and women, including two young ladies, broke down in the street this morning. Police provided comfort at the front of a 1930s house with three bedrooms.
One of the members of the group appears to be in distress and the police officer offers assistance. The others are watching.
Yogan’s cousin claimed that Yogan had called his wife in panic at 8:30pm.
He said: ‘He got a call from his wife about 8.30pm. The phone rang and then it just stopped. It wasn’t about the fire. She had packed her bags and was returning to Sri Lanka to pick up her grandchildren.
Jega, another cousin said that he had seen the children at their wedding two to three weeks back. Happy children. This is an unavoidable accident that you cannot prepare for.
“I believe he called his wife to say that it was a phone call and she was shouting fire, fire until the call ended dead. The phone went quiet. He said, “We call him Yogan. He’s forty.” Her mother-in law was expected to fly back to Sri Lanka today.
“It sounds like they were packing up her stuff for Gatwick. The couple were upstairs. We aren’t sure where exactly it started, but they might have been downstairs.
“His brother in law was upstairs as well. He jumped from the window, but he managed to survive. It is so tragic. It is so tragic. Yogan can’t speak. It’s extremely sad, it’s difficult to understand what he is experiencing.
“His brother in law is currently hospitalized – nobody has been able to talk to him yet. We’ve heard broken legs. It’s a terrible thing. It is impossible to plan for such things. Things happen unexpectedly in a family.
“He bought the house just three months ago. The couple has two children. He was on the job at the time. He works in local retail.
“We only came to him to be with our family and do not know how we can comfort him. He is the sole survivor of his family. He is also near his two younger sisters. They will be there, hopefully.
Unnamed third cousin said that he received a phone call from his wife while he was working at his job. He said that he had called me.
“He received a phone call about 8.30pm from his wife. The caller said he had heard “fire burning” and that the telephone was disconnected. He ran to his car and attempted to dial the number but couldn’t.
“The children are four years old and one-and-a half years respectively. They moved in to the house after purchasing it three months earlier. [in the UK]For over 15 years.
He said, “I learned this from the news. Then I called him.” He is now back at home. He’s extremely upset.
Another family member said: ‘We just don’t know what happened. We’re still waiting on the police report.
The horror fire was also reported by witnesses. Scott James (44-year-old builder) said that the fire quickly engulfed the home and smoke was seen blowing out onto the streets around 8.30pm.
James, who lives a stone’s throw from the scene, stated that he saw two people sitting against the wall and one standing alongside it.
He stated that he was overwhelmed by smoke, and the entire house became engulfed. It caught on fire downstairs, and the entire house was set ablaze. The house was completely engulfed by flames. The explosion didn’t occur.
According to him, the man sitting by the wall had become ‘distraught’. James claimed he was anxious and advised the neighbor to go back. Within minutes, the fire brigade showed up.
Mr James said firefighters ‘very quickly had ladders up to the windows,’ as they tried to rescue those inside, adding: ‘I am still in shock now about how quickly it all went.
“I witnessed the mother being pulled from the top window by firefighters. James stated that he believed the two children who were involved in the fire were a child and an older boy, aged between five to six years.
According to James the family only had been living in the newly renovated home for approximately five months.
He said, “I saw them yesterday. I waved at them.” They were just friendly and I wanted to say hi. They were just friendly. It was very disappointing to hear that they had died.
After the fire, relatives were photographed at Hamilton Road’s scene of the house-burning incident on Friday morning.
After Thursday’s tragedy, a relative was seen standing outside of the house.
A resident who lived nearby, but did not want to be identified, stated that the family currently living on the property had recently moved in.
In a grey hoodie, he offers flowers to the victims of last night’s horror fire in the South East London home.
An officer adds flowers to the mass of blooms that has gathered at the intersection where the cordon was still in place.
As they began an investigation into the house being gutted, a policeman stood at the perimeter of the home to direct the officers.
At the Bexleyheath scene of today’s house fire, you can see tributes. One said, “My heart hurts for the loss and grief caused by this tragic event.”
On Friday, a teddy bear was left behind at Hamilton Road in Bexleyheath after a fire broke out.
Matt Cook, the Deputy Assistant Commissioner to South-East London Fire Department makes a statement after a home fire in Bexleyheath.
Unknown resident said that the family who lived nearby had recently moved into the property.
He stated, “I was shocked at what had happened. I was looking to buy this house just a few months back.”
‘It was on the market for £425,000 four months ago and I think it sold for more than that. The house needed extensive refurbishment. It was quite bizarre to witness what has happened, knowing that I could have lived there.
One neighbor stated, “It’s terrible.” We could see the flashing blue lights and we looked out at all the chaos.
“We could see that they were trying to revive somebody.” The woman said, “It was shocking. We hope that they find the cause of the fire.”
Unnamed local claimed that they witnessed paramedics performing CPR on the boy just before his death.
Irene (70) told MyLondon that she heard a loud bang around 5.30pm. It shook her. At 8.30pm I went outside to check on the firefighters and ambulances. It was toxic fumes.
Ling Han, 36-year-old mother of three Ling Han used to visit the family from their garden. Her words were: “I had no idea it was a couple who lived there with their young children. They would be able to see us from our garden.
“It was a pre-nursery little girl, two to three years old. Then there was an older, slightly more mature boy, who I believe was at reception age.
“One man appeared to be fine and he was taken by ambulance at 10.30 pm. It was sad, and he looked helpless. It was horrible. I am scared. This really resonated with me as a mom.
Six bouquets were left by the street’s entrance, while two officers stood behind the tape.
The fire engine was placed in front of two large, blue-colored plastic sheets that were hung to obscure the view at either end.
Visible black streaks were visible on windows in the semi-detached house (first one to the right of Pickford Lane) with no glass.
According to the London Fire Brigade, two families lost their children and two mothers in an explosion at a south-east London house.
Last night, six fire engines were dispatched and 40 firefighters responded to the blaze at Hamilton Road in Bexleyheath.
Crews in breathing apparatus rescued two women and two children from the first floor using a 30ft ladder, but they all died at the scene
Before firefighters arrived, one man fled the scene and was taken by London Ambulance Service to a hospital.
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: ‘This is a truly terrible incident which is both sad and shocking’
Hamilton Road, Hamilton Road: Six fire engines were dispatched and approximately 40 firefighters attended to the scene of the terrible fire.
The two mothers and their two children were rescued by breathing apparatus crews using a ladder of 30 feet. However, they died on the spot.
The London Ambulance Service rushed one man to the hospital after he fled the area before firefighters arrived.
The home is near St Thomas More Catholic Primary School as well as Brampton Primary Academy and is not far from Bexleyheath Station.
Houses have sold recently for around £500,000 on the street, with the latest – a three-bed semi-detached – going for £480,000 in February 2020.
James Morford was the London Fire Brigade’s Brigade commander for Bexley. He stated that the children at the scene were in ‘infant’ age.
His explanation was that they were summoned to help with a house burning at 8.30pm last night. From the fire station, crews quickly arrived. They quickly identified that they required additional resources. They were immediately ordered.
“Crews” quickly got to work with their techniques, which they use every day. To gain entry to the building they used a 9 meter ladder with breathing apparatus and four rescues.
Morford was asked about the cause of the fatal fire and he said, “Unfortunately, I don’t know.” We are not sure.
“I have a fire investigator team who are going to return later this morning. With the assistance of our Met Police colleagues as well as our scientific advisor, it is possible to identify the cause.
The Brigade was dispatched at 8.30pm.
Bexley and Sidcup firefighters were present
As they raced to rescue the residents of the house, firefighters are seen on the scene
As they tried to extinguish the flames and assist the residents, emergency services gathered on the street outside of the house.
The police secured the perimeter and maintained surveillance overnight while they conducted their investigations.
Andy Roe (London Fire Commissioner) said last night, “This is truly a terrible incident that is both saddened and shocking.”
He stated that his thoughts were with the families, friends, as well as local communities during this very difficult time. The Brigade was dispatched at 8.30pm.
Around 40 firefighters were present from Plumstead, Erith and Sidcup fire stations. Investigating the cause of this fire continues.
Met Police spokesperson said that police were dispatched at 8.30pm Thursday in response to reports of an unattended fire at Hamilton Road, Bexleyheath.
The officers were attended by the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade. On the spot, officers declared two adults and two children dead – it was believed that they were an infant girl and boy.
“Their next-of-kin have been informed. Uninjured legs remain in a man’s hospital. The condition of the man isn’t life-threatening.
LAS took another victim to the hospital shortly after he arrived on the scene. Your next-of-kin know and receive specialist assistance.
The deceased may have all been related. The cause of fire at this stage isn’t believed to be suspicious, and no arrests have been made.
Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry is head of police for Bexley Lewisham Greenwich. He said that his thoughts were with the families of the deceased who suffered an awful, devastating loss.
“We have officers there and I believe these sentiments will be shared by all residents of London, Bexley and London in general.”
“Our investigations continue and we will continue our work with colleagues from the London Fire Brigade to completely understand the causes of this tragic incident. We don’t think the fire’s cause is suspicious at this stage.
Crayford MP Sir David Evennett posted: “Shocked by the tragic fire at Bexleyheath.” The family and friends are in our thoughts and condolences.
Sadiq Khan stated that he was heartbroken to learn of the tragic deaths of two young women and their children in a fire at home in Bexleyheath. I am so sorry for their families and all of the people in this horrible time.